Superleague Round 5 (Regular Season): Akhaltsikhe beat TSU by three after a very close game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 5 in the Superleague took place in Tbilisi. This derby game ended with only three-point home defeat of second-ranked TSU (3-2) to eighth ranked Akhaltsikhe (2-2) 84-81 on Saturday evening. The guests trailed by 7 points after three quarters before their 22-12 charge, which allowed them to win the game. American guard Jamir Harris (188-1998, college: Seton Hall) orchestrated the victory by scoring 30 points and 6 rebounds. ex-international power forward Beka Bekauri (209-1991, agency: BIG) contributed with 12 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. American swingman Andrew OBrien (201-2001, college: Southwestern, KS) answered with 14 points and 9 rebounds for TSU. Akhaltsikhe moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Iverioni. TSU at the other side dropped to the fourth position with two games lost. They share it with Telavi. Akhaltsikhe is looking forward to face higher ranked Telavi (#4) at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. TSU will play against Batumi and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Bottom-ranked Black Fortress is still unable to win any game. But it was rather predictable considering how strong their opponent was. This time they lost on the road their fifth consecutive match to fifth ranked Tkibuli Orbi (3-1) 82-81. American guard Henry Vetter (196, college: Trinity, CT) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners and Jimmy Bell Jr chipped in 14 points and 10 rebounds. Luka Kalatozishvili (198-1999) responded with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 16 rebounds. Black Fortress' coach Dejan Prokic rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Tkibuli Orbi moved-up to second place, which they share with Rustavi. Black Fortress at the other side still closes the standings with five games lost. Tkibuli Orbi will play against Kutaisi (#9) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Black Fortress will play against the league's second-placed Rustavi and hope to get finally their first victory.
The game between seventh ranked Telavi (3-2) and 9th ranked Kutaisi (1-4) in Telavi on Sunday ended with biggest points difference. Telavi beat guests from Kutaisi 89-80. Kyler Vander Jagt nailed 25 points for the winning side. Telavi's coach George Kazanjian used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Antonio Patterson came up with a double-double by scoring 24 points and 11 rebounds for Kutaisi in the defeat. Telavi have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with TSU. Loser Kutaisi keeps the ninth position with four games lost. They share it with Margveti. Telavi will meet Akhaltsikhe (#7) on the road in the next round. Kutaisi will play against Tkibuli Orbi and hope to win that game.

In the last game of round 5 Margveti was beaten by Rustavi on the road 82-76.



Rustavi - Margveti 82-76:
No shocking result in a game when third ranked Rustavi (3-1) beat at home 10th ranked Margveti (1-4) 82-76 on Friday. However just six-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. Margveti trailed by 15 points after 3 quarters before a 24-15 run in the last quarter cut the deficit to 76-82 at the end of the game. Rustavi dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Margveti's 34. Rustavi had a 35-24 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American guard Alvin Miles (180, college: Miles) nailed a triple-double by scoring 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the winning side and his fellow American import swingman Jaeden King (198-2001, college: St.Xavier) accounted for 20 points and 9 rebounds. Guinean center Thierno Sylla (211-2003, college: Memphis) came up with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 15 rebounds and American point guard Jasir Tremble (178, college: FSC) added 13 points and 6 assists respectively for Margveti in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Margveti's coach Irakli Dzidziguri tested eleven players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Rustavi have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Tkibuli Orbi. Margveti lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the ninth position with four games lost. They share it with Kutaisi. Rustavi will meet bottom-ranked Black Fortress (#11) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Margveti will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Rustavi: K.Jaeden 20+9reb+2ast, M.Alvin 15+10reb+10ast, J.Christian 10+4reb+4ast, P.Guga 10+6reb+2ast, K.Sha'Markus 9+6reb, N.Gafrindashvili 7+2reb+1ast
Margveti: J.Webster 16+2reb+1ast, M.Berishvili 15+3reb+1ast, T.Sylla 14+15reb+1ast, J.Tremble 13+2reb+6ast, D.Deang 7+5reb, E.Tengo 5+1reb+1ast

TSU - Akhaltsikhe 81-84:
The most exciting game of round 5 in the Superleague took place in Tbilisi. This derby game ended with only three-point home defeat of second-ranked TSU (3-2) to eighth ranked Akhaltsikhe (2-2) 84-81 on Saturday evening. The guests trailed by 7 points after three quarters before their 22-12 charge, which allowed them to win the game. American guard Jamir Harris (188-1998, college: Seton Hall) orchestrated the victory by scoring 30 points and 6 rebounds. ex-international power forward Beka Bekauri (209-1991, agency: BIG) contributed with 12 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. American swingman Andrew OBrien (201-2001, college: Southwestern, KS) answered with 14 points and 9 rebounds and forward Amiran Aroshidze (201-2006) added 14 points and 8 rebounds in the effort for TSU. Four Akhaltsikhe and five TSU players scored in double figures. Akhaltsikhe moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Iverioni. TSU at the other side dropped to the fourth position with two games lost. They share it with Telavi. Akhaltsikhe is looking forward to face higher ranked Telavi (#4) at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. TSU will play against Batumi and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Akhaltsikhe: H.Jamir 30+6reb+2ast, B.Beka 12+7reb+2ast, L.Mikeladze 11+2reb+1ast, C.Roman 11+10reb, Z.Luka 10+5reb+5ast, L.Qvartskhava 8+6reb+1ast
TSU: D.Howell 17+3reb+3ast, L.Ilia 16+4reb+1ast, A.Aroshidze 14+8reb+2ast, A.O'Brien 14+9reb+3ast, L.Luka 14+2reb+6ast, D.Kakhaber 3+3reb

Tkibuli Orbi - Black Fortress 82-81:
Bottom-ranked Black Fortress is still unable to win any game. But it was rather predictable considering how strong their opponent was. This time they lost on the road their fifth consecutive match to fifth ranked Tkibuli Orbi (3-1) 82-81. The hosts were ahead by 1 point but lost the second period ending it with a 3-point deficit before their 30-26 run, which allowed them to win the game. Tkibuli Orbi players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. American guard Henry Vetter (196, college: Trinity, CT) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners and his fellow American import center Jimmy Bell Jr (208-2000, college: MSU) chipped in 14 points and 10 rebounds. Luka Kalatozishvili (198-1999) responded with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 16 rebounds and American guard Delano Spencer (193-1994, college: Tennessee St.) scored 16 points and 7 assists. Five Tkibuli Orbi and four Black Fortress players scored in double figures. Black Fortress' coach Dejan Prokic rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Tkibuli Orbi moved-up to second place, which they share with Rustavi. Black Fortress at the other side still closes the standings with five games lost. Tkibuli Orbi will play against Kutaisi (#9) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Black Fortress will play against the league's second-placed Rustavi and hope to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Tkibuli Orbi: V.Henry 22+12reb+5ast, J.Bell 14+10reb+1ast, B.Lomashvili 13+6reb, D.Trapaidze 10+3reb+6ast, N.Totladze 10+1reb+6ast, W.Kevon 5+2reb+3ast
Black Fortress: K.Luka 22+16reb, D.Spencer 16+2reb+7ast, S.Ninua 15+8ast, V.Kadaria 12+4reb+3ast, D.Reddick 8+6reb+3ast, C.Giorgi 4+3reb

Telavi - Kutaisi 89-80:
The game between seventh ranked Telavi (3-2) and 9th ranked Kutaisi (1-4) in Telavi on Sunday ended with biggest points difference. Telavi beat guests from Kutaisi 89-80. The hosts took control from the first minutes by winning first half. But Kutaisi won third quarter 20-16. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Telavi made 9 blocks. American guard Kyler Vander Jagt (193-2003, college: Toledo) nailed 25 points for the winning side and his fellow American import guard Greg Milton III (190-2000, college: CSUSM) accounted for 14 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Telavi's coach George Kazanjian used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American forward Antonio Patterson (193, college: Tougaloo) came up with a double-double by scoring 24 points and 11 rebounds and forward Anzori Nadiradze (202-2001, agency: Dagger Basket) added 19 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for Kutaisi in the defeat. Telavi have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with TSU. Loser Kutaisi keeps the ninth position with four games lost. They share it with Margveti. Telavi will meet Akhaltsikhe (#7) on the road in the next round. Kutaisi will play against Tkibuli Orbi and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Telavi: V.Kyler 25+2reb+1ast, M.Greg 14+6reb+5ast, S.Troy 14+5reb+2ast, G.Kobakhidze 8+3reb+3ast, C.Myles 8+3reb+1ast, L.Pirtskheliani 6+3reb+1ast
Kutaisi: P.Antonio 24+11reb, A.Nadiradze 19+10reb+4ast, M.Frazier 10+2reb, K.Temur 8+7reb, G.Levan 6+4reb+1ast, L.Alavidze 6+4reb+7ast